Esther Chapter 2

A choice of virgins

2:1 After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration;’ăḥašvērôš Pronunciation akh-ash-vay-rosh’ Ahasuerus = “I will be silent and poor” title of the king of Persia (Iran), probably Xerxes successor to Cyrus, toward the end of the 70 years of Babylonian exile. 4th century B.C.E. (Rashi) For more info click here had calmed down, he remembered Vashtiוַשְׁתִּי
Transliteration;’vaštî Pronunciation vash-tee’ Vashti = “beautiful” The daughter of Belshazzar and granddaughter of Nebuchadnezzar (Sedr Hadoros) For more info click here,*זָכַר אֶת־וַשְׁתִּי
He remember Vashti i.e. with affection and remorse. He remembered the order he had given her to appear unclothed before him and how she refused, and how he had been wroth with her and put her to death. (Midrash)– From The Megillah: The Book of Esther and what she had done, and what had been decreedחֲנֻכָּא‎
Transliteration: gāzar Pronunciation;gaw-zar’ to cut, divide, cut down, cut off, cut in two, snatch, decree click here against her*Though the text says that Ahasuerus remembered Vashti in the morning (presumably with some regret) the next verse moves swiftly to the search for a new queen, leaving us to ask: What actually happened to Vashti? … a majority of the adult rabbinic commentators agree that Vashti was quietly taken out and beheaded. (The word for “decreed” (nigzar) is identical to the word for “cut off.”) The silence of the text is deafening, and readers are left to wonder. – From the website My Jewish Learning.
2:2 Then the king’s pages said* The King obviously mentioned his charges or how else would would his pages know to respond (Yosef Lekach)– For more info click here, Let fair young maidens be sought for the king:
2:3 The king should appoint officers in all the provinces of the kingdom to gather all the young, good-looking maidens to the house for the harem, in Shushanשׁוּשַׁן
Transliteration: šûšan – proper locative noun – Shushan or Susa = “lily”- the winter residence of the Persian kings; located on the river Ulai or Choaspes. for more info click here the capital, under the custody of Hegai (or Hege  meaning eunuch), the king’s eunuch, who guardian of the women; and let their cosmetics be given to them.
2:4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be reign instead of Vashtiוַשְׁתִּי
Transliteration;’vaštî Pronunciation vash-tee’ Vashti = “beautiful” The daughter of Belshazzar and granddaughter of Nebuchadnezzar (Sedr Hadoros) For more info click here. And the matter pleased the king; and he did so.
2:5 There was a Jewish manאִישׁ יְהוּדִי
 A Jewish man. All those who were exiled along with the Kings of Judah were called “Yehudi” by the gentiles regardless of their original tribe (Rashi). For more info The Megillah: The Book of Esther*אִישׁ
 The title man indicates that Mordechai in his generation was equal to Moses in his, for of Moses, too, it is written: וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה עָנָיו מְאֹד. And the ‘man’ Moses was very humble [Numbers 12:3] (Midrash) For more info The Megillah: The Book of Esther in Shushanבְּשׁוּשַׁן
Transliteration: bᵊšûšan – proper locative noun – Shushan or Susa = “lily”- the winter residence of the Persian kings; located on the river Ulai or Choaspes. for more info click here the capital  whose name [was] Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei (or Shimhi or Shimi or Shimea), the son of Kish (meaning bent or bow), a Benjaminiteאִישׁ יְמִינִי
The Hebrew for Benjaminite: Meaning man from the right” i.e. Mordechai never swerved to the left (Tiferes Shlomo) — Mordechai, as a descendant of Benjamin, deserved to be instrumental in saving the Jewish people because Benjamin was the only brother who din’t participate in the selling of Joseph into bondage. The other brothers are perpetually punished for this crime (Me`am Loez) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther*Mordechai was a descendant of King Saul and thus instrumental in correcting Saul’s iniquity of allowing Agag to escape and beget a son who was the forefather of Haman – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther;
2:6 Who had been exiled from Jerusalem מִירוּשָׁלַיִם‎
Transliteration: mîrûšālayim – proper locative noun meaning “teaching of peace” or possession of peace – also called the city of David and Zion – the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split For more info click here with the exiles who had been carried away with Jehoiachinיְכָנְיָה
Jeconiah Yəḵonəyā [jəxɔnjaː], meaning “Yah has established”; Greek: Ἰεχονίας; Latin: Iechonias, Jechonias), also known as Coniah and as Jehoiachin (Hebrew: יְהוֹיָכִין Yəhōyāḵīn [jəhoːjaːˈxiːn]; Latin: Ioachin, Joachin), was the nineteenth and penultimate king of Judah who was dethroned by the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BCE and was taken into captivity. For more info click here (or Jehoiachin) king of Judahיְהוּדָה‎
Modern: Yəhūda, Tiberian: Yŭhūḏā), literally “thanksgiving” or “praise,” is the noun form of the root Y-D-H (ידה), “to thank” or “to praise. The fourth of the six sons of Jacob and Leah. Also referring to the tribe of Judah or The Kingdom of Judah later referred to as Judea For more info click here, whom Nebuchadnezzar נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר‎
Transliteration nᵊḇûḵaḏne’ṣṣar Pronunciation neb-oo-kad-nets-tsar’ Nebuchadnezzar II also spelled Nebuchadrezzar II was the second Neo-Babylonian emperor, ruling from the death of his father Nabopolassar in 605 BC to his own death in 562 BC. Historically known as Nebuchadnezzar the Great, he is typically regarded as the empire’s greatest king For more info click here the King of Babylonבָּבֶל
Transliteration:bāḇel Pronunciation:baw-vel’, Babel or Babylon = “confusion (by mixing)” , the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah also spelled Hilla, is a city in central Iraq) situated on the Euphrates For more info click here had exiled.
2:7 And he brought upאֹמֵן
Reared – this word connotes the constant supervision and ministering demand of mother by her child. Mordechai, despite being a renowned member of the Sanhedrin, didn’t hesitate to perform these services for the child Esther (Me`qm Loez) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther Hadassahהֲדַסָּה
Transliteration; hăḏassâ Hadassah = “myrtle” queen Esther’s Jewish name. Just as the ‘myrtle’ has a sweet smell but bitter to the taste, So was Esher was sweet to Mordechai but bitter to Haman. Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here, that is, Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here, his uncle’s daughter: because she didn’t have a father or mother, and the maiden was fair featured and beautiful in appearance; whom Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration: mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here, when her father and mother died, adopted her as his own daughter.
2:8 So it happened, when the king’s order and his edict were announced, and when many young maidens had been gathered together to Shushan (or Susa) the capitol, in the custody of Hegai (or Hege meaning eunuch), Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here was takenוַתִּלָּקַח אֶסְתֵּר
Esther was taken. It is obvious from the phrase ‘was taken’ that when the edict was promulgated Mordechai had tried to hide Esther and that she was ultimately taken to the harem by force (Targum Sheni, Yosef Lekach) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther to the king’s palace, in the custody of Hegai, guardian of the women.
2:9 And the maiden pleased him and won his favor; and he hurriedly prepared her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven maidens from the king’s palace: and he moved her and her maidens to the best place in the harem.
2:10 Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here hadn’t revealed her people or her family ties: because Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here had instructed her that she shouldn’t to tell anyone.
2:11 And every day Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here would walk around in front of the court of the harem to learn about how Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here was doing, and what would done with her.
2:12 Now when each maiden’s turn had come to go into King Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration;’ăḥašvērôš Pronunciation akh-ash-vay-rosh’ Ahasuerus = “I will be silent and poor” title of the king of Persia (Iran), probably Xerxes successor to Cyrus, toward the end of the 70 years of Babylonian exile. 4th century B.C.E. (Rashi) For more info click here, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women.
2:13 and when the girl went in to the king she was given whatever she asked for to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.
2:14 She goes in the evening and in the morning she returned to the second haremבֵּית הַנָּשִׁים שֵׁנִי
Having conconsorted with the King, it would not have been proper for them to marry other other men. They were required to return and remain there for the rest of their lives as concubines, to await the possibility of being Queen if the King found no one better (Ibn Ezra; Alshich) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther, to the custody of Shaashgaz (meaning servant of the beautiful), the king’s eunuch, guardian of the concubinesˈkäNGkyəˌbīn noun– chiefly historical (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives..* There were two harems; one for the maidens being groomed for the king, the other for those who already had their turn with the king (Rashi) – From the Artscroll English Tanach She wouldn’t ever come to the king again, unless the king desired her, and she were summoned by name.
2:15 When the turn came for Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here‘s daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here, who had adopted her as [his] daughter) to go in to the king, she requested nothing except but what Hegai (or Hege) the king’s eunuch, the guardian of the women, had advised. And Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here was admired by all who saw her.
2:16 Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here was takenוַתִּלָּקַח אֶסְתֵּר
Esther was taken, By force, against her will (Midrash) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther to King Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration;’ăḥašvērôš Pronunciation akh-ash-vay-rosh’ Ahasuerus = “I will be silent and poor” title of the king of Persia (Iran), probably Xerxes successor to Cyrus, toward the end of the 70 years of Babylonian exile. 4th century B.C.E. (Rashi) For more info click here into his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month Teveth, in the seventh year of his reign.

2:17 And the king loved Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here more than all the women, and she found more favor and kindness in his sight more than all the other maidens; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashtiוַשְׁתִּי
Transliteration;’vaštî Pronunciation vash-tee’ Vashti = “beautiful” The daughter of Belshazzar and granddaughter of Nebuchadnezzar (Sedr Hadoros) For more info click here.
2:18 Then the king made a great banquet to all his officers and his servants, it was Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here‘s banquet; and he granted a holiday (or amnesty) for the provinces, and gave gifts, worthy of the king’s hand.
2:19 And when the maidens were gathered together the second time, and Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here sat in the king’s gate.
2:20 Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here still hadn’t revealed her kindred or her people; like Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here had instructed her: because Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here continued to obey Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here just like when she was brought up by him.

Mordecai discloses a plot against the king

2:21 In those days, while Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here was sitting at the King’s gateבְּשַׁעַר־הַמֶּלֶךְ
The commentators stress that Mordechai, sensing perilous times left his position at the Sanhedrin and stationed himself at the King’s gate where he would be the first to overhear any threats against the Jews and thereby thwart them (Me`am Loez) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan (or Bigthana) and Teresh (meaning strictness), who guarded the threshold, became angry, conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration;’ăḥašvērôš Pronunciation akh-ash-vay-rosh’ Ahasuerus = “I will be silent and poor” title of the king of Persia (Iran), probably Xerxes successor to Cyrus, toward the end of the 70 years of Babylonian exile. 4th century B.C.E. (Rashi) For more info click here.
2:22 And the matter became known to Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here, who told it to Queen Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here; and Estherאֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration;’estēr Pronunciation es-tare’ Esther = “star” the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther – daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin Said to be a Prophetesses in the Talmud. For more info click here told the king of it in Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here‘s name.
2:23 And when matter was investigated and found to be so; and they were both hung on a tree: and it was written in the book of the Matters of the Days in the king’s presence.